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Stafford to consider renewing conservation partnership after NVCT reports new acres protected
Summary
Staff reported about 12,000 acres already conserved countywide and more than 400 acres added since April; staff asked the board for consensus to renew the memorandum of understanding with Northern Virginia Conservation Trust and include related funding in next year’s budget.
Staff and the Northern Virginia Conservation Trust (NVCT) updated supervisors on land conservation efforts and requested direction to renew a memorandum of understanding that expires next June.
Kathy Baker, assistant director of planning and zoning, said the county authorized an NVCT agreement in late 2022 and that the partnership has a local NVCT staff member dedicated to Stafford. Laura Hassell, NVCT’s Stafford‑dedicated staffer, told the board she has generated 33 new direct landowner contacts in approximately 18 months, and that NVCT’s outreach, recruitment and fundraising have contributed to conservation progress in the county.
Hassell said the county has about 12,000 acres conserved through the county’s Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program, land trust easements and state agency acquisitions, and staff reported more than 400 acres conserved since April with over 500 additional acres in process. She cited a 20‑acre Widewater property being pursued for preservation and described targeted work to add parcels to the Crow’s Nest preserve and to participate in the REPI (Readiness and Environmental Integration Program) application for 200 acres in the Rock Hill area.
The board gave general support to renewing the agreement and to include a budget item in next year’s planning budget; staff said the county’s current contribution is roughly $55,000–$58,000 annually and the amount is likely to increase modestly with CPI adjustments.
